FLL have compiled a short video as a tribute to the life of Fr. Daniel Chui.

Getting to know Fr. Dan

Getting to Know Fr. Dan a Bit MoreFr. Daniel Chui, our Spiritual Director, is heavily involved in the planning, production and providing advice for the content of FLL programs.

When Fr. Daniel Chui educates young people, he has the Basilian motto “Teach me goodness, discipline and knowledge” in mind. He sees the goal of education as forming the whole person, not only in union with God, but also in close association with other people.

Call to Priesthood

Fr. Dan, as he is popularly known to most at FLL, was born and raised in Hong Kong until he moved to Canada at the age of 25. When he was a student at the University of Saskatchewan, he met a woman at a church, who wondered why he never went to communion, even though he attended Mass regularly. It was this casual encounter that led him to follow God's call eventually.

"My two older sisters and my younger brother were baptized while they were enrolled in Catholic schools in Hong Kong. I, however, studied at Buddhist high school. I suppose it was my parents' decision, since they are Buddhists. I had no idea how to become a Catholic even though I wanted to. This woman invited me to her home for dinner and introduced me to the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program at St. Joseph Church. In 1988, I was baptized," Fr. Dan said.

"I was touched by the solemnity of the baptism ceremony, and I conceived a strong desire to serve the Church," he continued. Through the inspiration of some Basilian priests, Fr. Dan gradually found out what this meant – to become a priest.

He was drawn to the Basilian congregation because of their focus on education, which they described as "Basilian charism". A typical Basilian priest devotes his whole life to teaching. With prayers and spiritual guidance from Fr. Daniel Callam at St. Thomas Moore College, University of Saskatchewan, he became a Basilian Associate in 1993. After his ordination in 2000, Fr. Dan served in pastoral and teaching assignments in Windsor and Toronto.

Mission of Fountain of Love and Life

When referring to FLL's mission, Fr. Dan thinks we should promote a unique culture which integrates Chinese culture, Canadian culture, and the Catholic faith.

"Many people admire Chinese culture for its family values which are expressed in the tightly-knitted family unit and respect for the elderly. Modern liberal thinking, in general, fails to see life as sacred. Thus social problems, such as divorce, abortion and euthanasia, arise." he said.

Fr. Dan believes that FLL can help parents and young people to explore some complicated issues in Canada, such as parental right in a curriculum that includes religion, sexuality and sexual orientation; as well as Rights of Conscience laws that affect medical staff, particularly doctors. He looks forward to a more consolidated FLL ministry that can develop insights on social issues and produce programs in response to them.

"There is still a lot of room to grow for the FLL ministry. I would like to thank and honour the many dedicated volunteers at FLL, who have already achieved much." Fr. Dan said.

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness ,and streams in the desert.’ Isaiah 35:5-6

Dear FLL Volunteers and Benefactors:

People of faith, hope and charity sometimes have dreams or visions such as that of Isaiah. In this Christmas season, however, we are invited to go beyond a dream and to embrace a vision, one filled with hope and leading us to courageous actions.

We are rooted in the conviction shared by all the prophets, and proclaimed preeminently by Jesus, that God is our hope, our salvation, our triumph over evil. We are also convinced that God has a plan for the world and for us, but that plan will only be accomplished with our participation. Christmas is a forceful reminder that God can work marvels through us if we place ourselves as humble but hope-filled people.

Thus a challenge for us as Christians of good will is to band together for peace, for justice, for virtuous living. Embrace these goodness fully ourselves first and spread them within our family, our community and across the nation. The Fountain of Love and Life ministry continues to be committed to this task.

I take this opportunity to thank you all for your generous support in many ways. I pray that the Christ Child will bring peace and joy to you and your family this Christmas and in the New Year.

Gallery

Obituary

Rev. Daniel W. CHUI C.S.B.
Obituary

CHUI, Rev. Daniel W., C.S.B. – Suddenly in his room at the Basilian retirement home Anglin House on Sunday, December 21, 2014 after a three-year, peaceful battle with esophageal cancer. He was born in Hong Kong on September 19, 1959, the son of the late Pui Chui and Ying Tang. He met the Basilian Fathers at the University of Saskatchewan, was professed on January 2, 1996 and ordained June 29, 2000. He then served as assistant pastor at Assumption Church, Windsor, ON, for three years before being appointed as a teacher at St. Michael’s College School while assisting in the formation of seminarians in the Congregation of St. Basil for four years. In 2007, he was sent to Holy Rosary Church, Toronto, ON, where he became pastor early in the next year until his cancer caused him to leave in 2012. After being diagnosed that he was in remission, he returned to Assumption Church in late 2012 until he returned to Toronto early this year to more easily access medical treatment. Daniel was well loved in the parishes in which he worked because he was unfailingly friendly and cheerful. Throughout his illness he impressed everyone with his peaceful acceptance of whatever was happening to him. This obviously demonstrated his deep faith in a loving God. He is survived by his mother Ying, his siblings Goretti, Sr. Maddalena F.M.A., Vincent, Christopher and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held in the Chapel of the Cardinal Flahiff Basilian Centre, 95 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, on Friday, December 26th from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. until a Wake Service at 7:30 p.m.

Visitation will also be held on Saturday, December 27th from 9 a.m., followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Basil’s Church, 50 St. Joseph Street, Toronto. Burial will be at the Basilian plot at Holy Cross Cemetery, Thornhill, ON. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Basilian Fathers Retirement Fund, 95 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3C2. Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel

3 Comments

It was my pleasure to be at Holy Rosary while Fr Chui was pastor. I always believed he was a holy man. He gave us a great witness to his love of God. He made no exceptions when it came to accepting each of us as special persons. It was always a special moment to be in his presence and know that acceptance.

Rest in peace Fr Dan. You were loved by everyone. I will always remember you with love and respect. You were a great gift to me personally and to many I am sure.
Peace
Sister Theresa Moher